elementarhy, an innovative green-tech start-up, has been awarded the prestigious “Best European Hydrogen Start-up 2025” at the H2 National Summit hydrogen conference in Hamburg. The company is revolutionizing the hydrogen economy with its groundbreaking Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) that drastically reduces the need for expensive raw materials in water electrolysis, paving the way for more affordable hydrogen production, reports ChemEurope.com.
Climate-neutral hydrogen is anticipated to be a key energy source for industry and a storage solution for electricity generated from solar and wind power. However, its production has historically been costly. Electrolyzers, the devices used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, rely on iridium – a rare and costly precious metal even scarcer than gold and platinum – to facilitate this process.
Leveraging decades of scientific research, elementarhy has developed a cost-effective and innovative MEA for electrolysis using plasma technology. This new MEA requires 95% less of the expensive iridium compared to existing methods. This significant reduction allows for the central electrolyzer components to be produced in Germany at 25% lower cost, making overall hydrogen production considerably more economical.
elementarhy’s revolutionary technology empowers all electrolyzer manufacturers to significantly improve their resilience against critical raw material supply issues and enhance economic efficiency. The company offers MEA exchange as a service to leading industry customers.
Furthermore, elementarhy’s technology completely eliminates the use of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS), currently used in catalyst coating. These “forever chemicals” accumulate in the environment and living organisms and are considered a health risk. With the EU currently considering extensive PFAS bans, the industry is urgently seeking alternatives, which elementarhy provides.
elementarhy is a spin-off from the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Research and Technology in Greifswald, a hub for developing innovative solutions for socially and economically important technologies. The Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) has supported elementarhy as an “outstanding research-based start-up” since 2023. With its headquarters in Hamburg and a facility in Greifswald, the company strategically combines Hamburg’s economic strength in the hydrogen sector with Greifswald’s leading plasma research expertise.
The “Best European Hydrogen Start-up 2025” award recognizes elementarhy’s innovative advancements in Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs), which are making a crucial contribution to the further development of the hydrogen economy. The annual H2-Age Award celebrates start-ups that are driving the hydrogen economy forward through innovative technologies and business models.
The jury specifically acknowledged elementarhy’s potential to enable large-scale and affordable production of green hydrogen, thereby making a decisive contribution to reducing reliance on fossil-based hydrogen. The jury included prominent figures such as Dr. Stefan Kaufmann (Member of the German Bundestag and former Innovation Commissioner for Hydrogen of the Federal Government), Prof. Dr. Christopher Hebling (Fraunhofer ISE), and Jan Rispens (Renewable Energy Hamburg).
The award was presented by Jan Rispens, and Dr. Zahra Nasri (CSO) and Arne Birth (CFO) accepted the €5,000 prize on behalf of elementarhy.
The patron of the H2 National Summit, Hamburg’s First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher, emphasized the vital role of hydrogen for a sustainable energy future, stating, “Hydrogen is a central energy carrier of the future and the key to a successful energy transition. Politics and business are working together to ensure that the production, trade, and use of hydrogen receive tailwind. Hamburg is consistently pursuing this course because decarbonization and modernization go hand in hand with climate protection and economic competitiveness.”
Arne Birth (CFO) of elementarhy commented, “Green hydrogen needs innovation. We now enable the hydrogen economy and electrolyzers worldwide to make green hydrogen sustainable, scalable, and, above all, affordable with our Membrane Electrode Assemblies. Our plasma technology significantly reduces critical and costly precious metals like iridium and paves the way for secure energy and raw material supply.”
With the H2-Age Award 2025, elementarhy has received another significant recognition for its innovative developments. In addition to the award, the company benefits from ongoing support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and its previous win of the Leibniz Founding Prize 2024. These resources are enabling the team to accelerate the development of market-ready production facilities and the commercialization of its groundbreaking technology.
